Ruto Wants US and UK to Impose a Travel Ban on Raila over Calls for Mass Action

President Ruto’s administration wants the US, UK and other Western nations to impose sanctions such as a travel ban on Azimio leader Raila Odinga over his calls for mass action, according to reports.

Sunday Nation reports that the government wants Odinga, who has threatened to lead countrywide mass action, barred from traveling to friendly Western nations if he proceeds with the plan.

Last week, Odinga vowed to lead mass action in 14 days if Ruto’s administration fails to honor the opposition coalition’s demands for changes in the formula for selecting new IEBC commissioners and lowering the cost of living.

MPs and leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration confirmed plans by the government to have Western countries impose an embargo on Odinga for “destabilizing the country.”

“You cannot earn the respect of the international community when you are busy trying to cause civil strife in your country. (President Robert) Mugabe of Zimbabwe was a respected democrat but when he started undermining the same democratic tenets, the international community placed tough sanctions against him. Raila has earned a name for himself for being a democrat. But if he starts behaving like a rebel, we will ask the international community to punish him,” National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya told Nation.

Defense and Foreign Relations Committee chairman Nelson Koech said the international community has a lot of interests in the country and would not hesitate to isolate Odinga if he leads anti-government protests.

 “It is not unusual for governments across the world, in pursuit of their national interests and global order, to place sanctions on individuals and organisations with a high appetite for causing political and economic instability. The globalisation of markets and production means the international community has insurable interests in Kenya’s political and economic stability. Anybody who attempts to cause instability in the globalisation matrix will soon find himself isolated and swimming with sharks in dark cold waters,” Koech noted.

 “Kenyans, as well as our international partners and stakeholders, are shocked that Mr Odinga is treating Kenyan institutions and voters with contempt by attempting to undermine a democratically elected administration,” he added.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei claimed Odinga’s plan is to incite the public against a legitimate government and should be denied the privileges he enjoys for undermining the authority of the current administration.

“Tinga (Mr Odinga) should lose all the privileges accorded to him locally and internationally by virtue of his former PM office. The international community normally bans individuals who sponsor civil strife against legitimate governments,” he said.

But Azimio leaders said the planned mass protests are within the Constitution, adding that it would be surprising for western countries to listen to such unfounded requests by the government.

 “We’re not scared by those threats, as what we are doing is within the law. If Western countries can agree to those requests, then they will justify our fears that they rigged Kenya Kwanza into power,” said Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi said: “Raila Odinga is an institution. Anybody imagining that he can be cut down to size is living in a world of fantasy. They should watch out; they will definitely be surprised.”

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni said: “They tried to blackmail Uhuru with the issue of retirement benefits and it did not work. They also came with the imaginary tax evasion issue that also did not work.”